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Motherwell1 - 2Hearts

A second-half Kevin Kyle penalty moved Hearts to within three points of second place in Scottish Premier League.

Hearts went ahead as Darren Randolph saved a fantastic overhead kick from David Templeton, only for Mark Reynolds to nudge the ball into his own net.

Keith Lasley levelled inside a minute, slotting home from an Alan Gow pass.

But Kyle stroked Hearts ahead on the hour after Templeton had been felled, while Motherwell's late rally was derailed by Steve Jennings' red card.

Hearts have now won six consecutive matches, pulling six points clear of fourth-placed Inverness and closing in on Celtic, who have played a game less.

And the victory was deserved as Jim Jefferies' side carved out the better chances in an enthralling encounter, brimming with passion and full of meaty challenges.

Motherwell, who were being led by youth development chief Gordon Young following the departure of Craig Brown and Archie Knox to Aberdeen last week, had not played for three-and-a-half weeks because of the recent cold weather.

But it did not take the home side long to warm up, with Jamie Murphy skidding a low shot wide after cutting in from the left flank.

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Motherwell moved the ball around slickly but without any real menace, while Hearts were more direct and striker Kyle was proving a real handful for the home defence.

Ryan Stevenson and Rudi Skacel both went close with fizzing long-range strikes as Kyle made his considerable presence felt.

Stephen Elliott should have fired the visitors in front on 29 minutes when Templeton found him with an excellent delivery from the left but the Irish forward volley awkwardly over the crossbar from six yards.

A slip from Ruben Palazuelos presented Murphy with a shooting chance on the edge of the penalty area but the 21-year-old pulled his shot beyond the far post.

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Murphy then stumbled through a couple of challenges to fire a strike across goal, with team-mate Nick Blackman cutting a frustrated figure as he failed to follow in.

Kyle showed a deft touch to control a high ball and volley just beyond the far post before Hearts took the lead on 44 minutes.

Kyle and Elliot combined to set up Templeton for an acrobatic overhead kick, which was stopped brilliantly by Randolph. However, the Motherwell goalkeeper and Reynolds got in each other's way as they tried to clear and the ball trundled over the line.

The Hearts fans were still celebrating when Motherwell hit back, as Lasley stabbed the ball under Marian Kello from 12 yards after running on to Alan Gow's wonderful through-ball.

The exciting Templeton was heavily the involved in the early stages of the second half, heading over from a Darren Barr cross before drilling a shot on the turn straight at Randolph.

Jennings was sent off late in the game as Hearts held on to win

Elliott then missed his second close-range sitter as he crashed a shot against the crossbar after a marauding gallop from right-back Barr. The ball came back to the Irishman but he could only head over the crossbar under pressure from a cluster of defenders.

Motherwell were buckling under wave after wave of Hearts attacks and skipper Craigan conceded a penalty when he halted an enterprising run from Templeton, allowing Kyle to convert from the spot.

Templeton was looking for a second penalty soon after when he was clipped from behind by Jennings but referee Stevie O'Reilly waved away what appeared to be a strong claim.

Motherwell were denied an equaliser when Marius Zaliukas made a vital block on Murphy's shot after the Scotland U21 forward had cleverly twisted his way through the Hearts defence.

The home side were growing in purpose in the closing minutes but lost momentum and any chance of salvaging a point when Jennings was dismissed.

The 'Well midfielder was incensed when nothing was given after Gow tumbled in the penalty box and was shown a straight red card after chasing O'Reilly down to complain.

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